SOUTH WAYNE - The Black Hawk boys basketball team has faced a steady diet of 2-3 zone defenses from opponents this season.
That was the case again against Albany Tuesday, and it paved the way for Black Hawk senior Jason Treuthardt to score a team-high 15 points and drill three 3-pointers to lead the Warriors to a 68-48 win over the Comets.
"Guys got the attention away from me and got me open," Treuthardt said. "I was able to knock down shots. I have to thank them for getting me open. We are really starting to click for the playoffs."
Black Hawk (13-6, 7-4 Six Rivers East) led by as many as 28 points after senior C.J. Leuzinger came up with a steal and scored on a layup to give the Warriors a 50-22 lead with about 13 minutes to go.
"We have been facing 2-3 zones from Division 5 teams every game," Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson said. "We are pretty much experts on it. We try to get it to the high post or the short corner. Jason does such a great job of passing it out of the short corner spot. Jason, Jett, C.J. and Jared hit some deep shots and that opened it up inside. Jason has been doing a really good job of shooting the ball. He's been really consistent."
Early on, it was all Black Hawk as the Warriors opened the game with a 23-8 run. Black Hawk senior Jett Rufenacht knocked down two of his three 3s in the first half to spark his team. The Warriors hit eight 3s in all. Treuthardt hit a 3-pointer with 8:32 left in the first half to give the Warriors a 15-point lead, 23-8.
"The two big things with Black Hawk because they are tall and athletic, I thought they may hurt us with their press and on the boards," Albany coach Derek Allen said. "I thought we did a pretty good job in those areas. We just couldn't hit shots. We got down early, but we kept fighting."
Black Hawk junior Conner Meyer hit a jumper from the high post and Leuzinger came up with a steal and scored on a layup to give the Warriors their biggest lead of the first half, 34-12 with 2:38 to go. Albany junior Josh Dahl scored a game-high 19 points, but had just 8 in the first half and the Comets trailed by 21 points at the break.
"Jett came out and really gave us a spark," Anderson said. "I think our shooting is really improving and our offense is coming along."
Meyer scored 15 points, Leuzinger 14 and Rufenacht 13.
Dahl and Albany junior Corbin Kelley caught fire in the second half. The Comets rallied from a 28-point deficit. Dahl and Kelley combined to score 20 points in the frame. Dahl had a steal and layup that helped the Comets slice the Warriors' lead to 17 points with about 7:20 to go. The Warriors answered with Treuthardt hitting a 3 and Jared Knapp scoring on a layup to push the lead back to 24-points, 60-36.
"We knew what they could do if they (Dahl and Kelley) got hot," Treuthardt said. "We knew we had to come out, play our 'A' game and take care of business. Dahl and Kelley can really drive. Coach really prepared us and got us pumped up. He (Coach Anderson) really got us prepared for those close outs and to cut off their drives."
The Comets knocked down five 3s in the second half.
"They shot the ball better," Anderson said of Albany. "They did a really good job of breaking our press and that is a credit to them. I know we could have played with a little more energy in the second half. If you want to win playoff games, you have to play with energy for 36 minutes. It's something we have to keep focusing on."
Kelley finished with 12 points. Albany suffered a blow when junior Jamison Stauffacher fouled out with 5:57 to go.
"Jamison is our only player over 6 feet," Allen said. "He has a tough job especially against Black Hawk who has three or four players bigger than him."
That was the case again against Albany Tuesday, and it paved the way for Black Hawk senior Jason Treuthardt to score a team-high 15 points and drill three 3-pointers to lead the Warriors to a 68-48 win over the Comets.
"Guys got the attention away from me and got me open," Treuthardt said. "I was able to knock down shots. I have to thank them for getting me open. We are really starting to click for the playoffs."
Black Hawk (13-6, 7-4 Six Rivers East) led by as many as 28 points after senior C.J. Leuzinger came up with a steal and scored on a layup to give the Warriors a 50-22 lead with about 13 minutes to go.
"We have been facing 2-3 zones from Division 5 teams every game," Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson said. "We are pretty much experts on it. We try to get it to the high post or the short corner. Jason does such a great job of passing it out of the short corner spot. Jason, Jett, C.J. and Jared hit some deep shots and that opened it up inside. Jason has been doing a really good job of shooting the ball. He's been really consistent."
Early on, it was all Black Hawk as the Warriors opened the game with a 23-8 run. Black Hawk senior Jett Rufenacht knocked down two of his three 3s in the first half to spark his team. The Warriors hit eight 3s in all. Treuthardt hit a 3-pointer with 8:32 left in the first half to give the Warriors a 15-point lead, 23-8.
"The two big things with Black Hawk because they are tall and athletic, I thought they may hurt us with their press and on the boards," Albany coach Derek Allen said. "I thought we did a pretty good job in those areas. We just couldn't hit shots. We got down early, but we kept fighting."
Black Hawk junior Conner Meyer hit a jumper from the high post and Leuzinger came up with a steal and scored on a layup to give the Warriors their biggest lead of the first half, 34-12 with 2:38 to go. Albany junior Josh Dahl scored a game-high 19 points, but had just 8 in the first half and the Comets trailed by 21 points at the break.
"Jett came out and really gave us a spark," Anderson said. "I think our shooting is really improving and our offense is coming along."
Meyer scored 15 points, Leuzinger 14 and Rufenacht 13.
Dahl and Albany junior Corbin Kelley caught fire in the second half. The Comets rallied from a 28-point deficit. Dahl and Kelley combined to score 20 points in the frame. Dahl had a steal and layup that helped the Comets slice the Warriors' lead to 17 points with about 7:20 to go. The Warriors answered with Treuthardt hitting a 3 and Jared Knapp scoring on a layup to push the lead back to 24-points, 60-36.
"We knew what they could do if they (Dahl and Kelley) got hot," Treuthardt said. "We knew we had to come out, play our 'A' game and take care of business. Dahl and Kelley can really drive. Coach really prepared us and got us pumped up. He (Coach Anderson) really got us prepared for those close outs and to cut off their drives."
The Comets knocked down five 3s in the second half.
"They shot the ball better," Anderson said of Albany. "They did a really good job of breaking our press and that is a credit to them. I know we could have played with a little more energy in the second half. If you want to win playoff games, you have to play with energy for 36 minutes. It's something we have to keep focusing on."
Kelley finished with 12 points. Albany suffered a blow when junior Jamison Stauffacher fouled out with 5:57 to go.
"Jamison is our only player over 6 feet," Allen said. "He has a tough job especially against Black Hawk who has three or four players bigger than him."
